Car batteries contain sulfuric acid, and they can, when the cables become loose or the battery becomes old, leak acid. When the acid leaks, it either spews onto the battery and the cables, or it seeps into the cables themselves. You should inspect your battery cables for signs of corrosion, and for wear and tear, regularly to avoid any problems with your car.
Instructions
- 1
Wear protective goggles and rubber gloves to prevent getting any possible leaked acid on your skin or eyes. It is also important to make sure the car is off before you inspect the car battery cables.
2Look at the battery itself first. Your first sign of corrosion is a white powdery substance on or around the cable terminals and ports for the battery.
3Disconnect the car battery cables from the battery before you try to inspect them for wear and tear or corrosion. This can be done by loosening the bolts by grasping the bolts with a wrench and turning them to the left.
4Hold the cables in your hands, and look closely for any breaks or tears in the plastic lining around the copper wires. If you see any copper wiring, these cables should be replaced for the safety and performance of your battery.
5Inspect the battery cables for corrosion by bending the cables. Cables that are free of corrosion bend with no resistance, but if there is corrosive acid inside the plastic sheeting, the cables have a crunchy feeling when bent.
6Investigate further into whether or not your battery cables are corroded, by making a vertical slice in the plastic sheeting and looking inside for white powder and a green tint to the copper wires. Both of these are indications that your cables have corrosion.
7Test your battery cables for loose fittings by gently tugging on the bolts that connect the cables to the battery. If you can move them, or jiggle them, with your hand, then they are too loose and could cause acids to leak. Simply tighten the battery cables by grasping the bolts firmly with a wrench and turning them to the right.
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